New Lower DUI in Effect for Nevada

At midnight Monday, Nevada's new DUI limit goes into effect - it brings the state in line with federal standards.

It's a fairly small change but officers say it's going to make a big difference on our roads.

The new DUI threshold drops from .1 percent to .08 percent.

It would take a 150-pound man 4 drinks in an hour to exceed that limit and a 150-pound woman be considered legally drunk after 3 drinks in an hour.

And that varies based on the type of drink and a person's metabolism

Officers say the new limit will increase the number of people prosecuted for driving drunk and keep our streets safer.

Last May, drunk driver Stephen Scharosh drove into oncoming traffic, colliding head on with a mini-van. The crash killed five family members, four of them children. Investigators later found his blood alcohol level was .20.

The state's new lower limit won't stop accidents like that, but at Sparky's Sports Bar in Sparks patrons think the new law will make drinkers think twice before driving.

Says John Spiers of Reno: "It will be beneficial with all the debauchery they allow in this town."

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